“How are you?”
“Fine, you?”
That’s what we do. Day after day. It’s perfunctory. For a few of us, maybe not. It’s a greeting to be nice. It’s the norm. But is it authentic? Do I really want to know how the receptionist at the car dealership is doing? I mean how she’s really doing. Is she feeling okay today? Has life been treating her well? How is her family? Maybe I don’t want to know how my neighbor is doing. I am in a hurry. It’s nearly 6 p.m. and I have a schedule to keep. Dinner by 6:30. Netflix by 8. It’s super important. What’s far more important, is how we are actually doing. The way the world is turning, we don’t communicate like we used to. You could probably go an entire day without speaking to another human being, even if you left your home. There are delivery services. Self-checkouts. Social media. No need to communicate face to face. We can just Zoom. If I were to spend some time researching the power of human interaction, I’m willing to bet all my money (Monopoly money) that fulfillment, joy and purpose are tied to human interaction. We may not have time to check on everyone, every single day, but we can make time to check on someone. Being an introvert, it’s not always easy for me to reach out. I find such great joy in solitude, reflection, and meditation. Thankfully my need to ensure that those that surround me are okay, outweighs my desire to be alone. When you check on someone else, it might remind them to check on someone else as well. I was sitting in a meeting waiting for it to start when the person next to me asked me how everything was going and how was I doing. It caused me to pause because I could tell that this person truly wanted to know. She was attentive, she leaned in and waited for my response. She affirmed what I was saying and she continued the conversation. Of course, at this point, I wanted to know how she was doing as well. It was a great exchange. I’m so glad that the meeting started a few minutes late. I felt heard. I felt valued. I knew that at least one person was genuinely concerned about my well-being. No matter the year, there are always trying times. Wars, family crises, death, destruction, politics, and everything else can overwhelm us. We have to check on each other. We can’t solve the world’s problems, but we can have conversations that can lead to a change in someone. We have the power to turn someone’s day around with an authentic conversation. May is such a wonderful time to flourish and renew. Reach out to someone. Let’s grow together.
